70 PACHYCEPHALIN^. 



tree, and lined with fine grasses, the whole matted together 

 externally with cobwebs ; the eggs, which are three or four in 

 number, are of a glossy white, with numerous minute speckles of 

 dark olive, most thickly disposed at the larger end ; they are 

 seven-eighths of an inch long by five-eighths of an inch in breadth." 

 (Gould, Handhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., p. 229.) 



Hab. West and South-West Australia. (JRamsay.) 



Genus OEEOICA, Gould. , 



^-"i OREOICA CEISTATA, ieww. 



Crested Oreoica 



Gould, Haridhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 131, p. 231. I^- "^^ 



« 



This bird appears to be almost universally dispersed over the 

 continent of Australia, specimens having been recently received 

 from the North Western Coast and the Gulf District; and it is also 

 found in the most southern parts of Victoria and South Australia. 

 The powers of ventriloquism of this bird ' are truly wonderful, 

 when perched on the thick branch of some lofty gum-tree, 

 commencing with its singularly low, mournful, and plaintive note, 

 it appears a long way off, and it is not until it has reached its 

 fullest and highest bell-like tones, that you are aware it is in the 

 tree perhaps underneath which you are standing, and even aftep- 

 ascertaining which tree it is in, it remains so motionless that it is 

 most diificult of detection. 



The nest of this species is a deep cup-shaped structure, composed 

 of strips of bark, and Eucalyptus leaves, some pieces of the former 

 measuring three-quarters of an inch across, neatly lined with finer 

 strips of bark, fibrous roots, and grasses ; outside measurement 

 four and a-half inches across, depth three inches ; inside measure- 

 ment three inches in diameter by two in depth. Eggs two or 

 three in number for a sitting, usually the former, and varying a 



